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City of San Bernardino accused of breaking law in letter to President Trump
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Mar 8, 2017
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City of San Bernardino accused of breaking law in letter to President Trump
San Bernardino city officials were accused of violating the Brown Act in sending letter to President Trump that requested assistance to combat crime.

San Bernardino City Hall
San Bernardino City Hall
(
Steven Cuevas / KPCC
)

San Bernardino city officials were accused of violating the Brown Act in sending letter to President Trump that requested assistance to combat crime.

After President Trump tweeted that he was poised to send in federal agents to combat crime in Chicago, San Bernardino city officials thought they should ask for some help themselves.

San Bernardino has one of the highest crime rates in California with a per capita murder rate that exceeds Chicago's.

So, the city of San Bernardino sent a letter to the White House last month asking for help battling violent crime and drugs. It was signed by the mayor, all members of the city council, and several other officials, including the police chief.

Then controversy arose over how the letter came to be, and city officials were accused of breaking the law. A complaint was filed and demands were made to retract the letter. 

For more on the motivation behind the letter and its fallout, Take Two's A Martinez spoke with Ryan Hagen, who has reported on this for the San Bernardino Sun. 

To hear the interview, click on the blue Media Player above.